Council for Adult & Experiential Learning Commends President Obama

State of the Union Address Recognized Importance of Adult Learning as Key Part of Ladder to Success

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - January 31, 2014) - The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) applauded President Obama for remarks in Tuesday's State of the Union address which urged better alignment of needed job skills with educational offerings, Pamela Tate, CAEL CEO and President announced today. "In recognizing the need for better access to better training focused on needed job skills, the President emphasized a theme we have long supported -- partnerships with employers and educators to improve the lives of ordinary Americans by providing them with the skills they need to succeed in the workplace, and we are achieving that through our coalition of adult focused learning institutions (ALFIs)," said Tate.

By developing adult-centered programs and services, ALFIs can attract students who have a variety of classroom-level skills gained from lifelong learning experiences, are eager for the opportunity for more education, and who can add to and enrich an institution's student body. CAEL is committed to helping every college and university nationwide become ALFI-friendly by providing various assessment tools for schools interested in implementing ALFI principles. One of those principles directly addresses the President's concern. As stated on CAEL's website, ALFI institutions should "engage in strategic relationships, partnerships, and collaborations with employers and other organizations in order to develop and improve educational opportunities for adult learners." Along with consulting schools individually, CAEL also oversees a coalition of over 50 colleges and universities that continuously work to strengthen student resources for adults.

"Educational opportunities should not be limited by one's age, and no adult desiring a degree should feel as though their life circumstances are an insurmountable obstacle to attaining one. Colleges and universities can play a big role in making these opportunities accessible, and by becoming ALFIs, they can help adults help both themselves and our country's future workforce," concluded Tate.

The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Chicago, Illinois that assists adults with their educational endeavors, finding practical ways to help them earn college credit for learning acquired through life and work experiences toward the completion of a postsecondary credential. CAEL works with the public sector, private sector industries, and higher education institutions to ensure that adult students receive the most efficient training and education to be employable in the 21st century economy. Since 1974, CAEL has assisted colleges and universities to develop programs that evaluate adults' non-collegiate learning for college credit. CAEL is the recognized national expert on a method known as portfolio assessment, and its Ten Standards for Assessing Learning are used by colleges and universities, as well as accrediting organizations, across the country. More information is available at www.cael.org. Follow CAEL on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CAELnews or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CAELnews.